Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2010 Aug 9;130(3):514-20. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2010.05.041.
Tupinambis merianae is one of the most frequently used animals in traditional medicine in Brazil as its body fat has many different therapeutic indications as a folk remedy. The present study evaluated the topical anti-inflammatory activity of Tupinambis merianae fat in treating ear edema in an animal model.
Oil (OTM) was extracted from body fat located in the ventral region of Tupinambis merianae using hexane as a solvent. Ear edema provoked by the application of croton oil (single and multiple application), arachidonic acid, phenol and capsaicin to Swiss mice was used to evaluate the potential anti-inflammatory value of the topical use of OTM. Topical applications of these irritants were made to the right ears of animals that were pre-treated with a acetone (control), dexamethasone, or OTM.
Our results indicate that Tupinambis merianae fat demonstrates significant topical antiinflammatory activity that reduces inflammation related to ear edema caused by croton oil (single and multiple application), arachidonic acid, phenol. While the inflammation caused by capsaicin, OTM did not significantly reduce the edema.
This represents the first evidence of anti-inflammatory activity of Tupinambis merianae fat in in vivo models, confirming its usefulness in traditional medicine as a remedy for skin diseases (dermatitis). The fatty acids present in OTM most likely inhibit the response pathway of arachidonic acid and its metabolites, thus reducing the production of pro-inflammatory mediators.
美洲蟾巨蜥是巴西传统医学中最常使用的动物之一，因其体脂具有许多不同的治疗适应症，作为一种民间疗法。本研究评估了美洲蟾巨蜥脂肪在治疗动物模型中耳肿胀方面的局部抗炎活性。
使用正己烷作为溶剂从美洲蟾巨蜥腹部区域的体脂中提取油（OTM）。使用蓖麻油（单次和多次应用）、花生四烯酸、苯酚和辣椒素在瑞士小鼠上引发耳肿胀，以评估 OTM 局部应用的潜在抗炎价值。将这些刺激性物质应用于动物的右耳，这些动物预先用丙酮（对照）、地塞米松或 OTM 处理。
我们的结果表明，美洲蟾巨蜥脂肪具有显著的局部抗炎活性，可减轻由蓖麻油（单次和多次应用）、花生四烯酸、苯酚引起的耳肿胀相关炎症。而辣椒素引起的炎症，OTM 并没有显著减轻肿胀。
这代表了美洲蟾巨蜥脂肪在体内模型中具有抗炎活性的首次证据，证实了其在传统医学中作为皮肤病（皮炎）治疗药物的用途。OTM 中存在的脂肪酸可能抑制花生四烯酸及其代谢物的反应途径，从而减少促炎介质的产生。
